Mobile wireless communications device with reset functions and related methods

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a display, a graphics processing unit (GPU) being resettable and causing a change in the display when reset, a wireless transceiver, and a processor cooperating with the GPU and the wireless transceiver for wireless communications. The processor may be resettable along with the GPU, and the processor also may be partially resettable without resetting the GPU to avoid a change in the display.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a display; 
 a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to be resettable and cause a change in said display when reset; 
 a processor configured to
 be resettable along with said GPU, 
 be partially resettable without resetting said GPU to avoid a change in said display, and 
 generate a GPU reset signal during the partial reset; 
 
 a power management circuit configured to shut down power to said GPU and said processor during resets thereof, but maintain power to said GPU and said processor during a partial reset, and to generate a GPU reset hold signal; and 
 a logic circuit configured to reset said GPU during the reset of said processor, and not reset said GPU during the partial reset based upon the GPU reset signal and the GPU reset hold signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device according to  claim 1  wherein said processor is configured to be partially resettable based upon a self-initiated command. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device according to  claim 1  further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said processor. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device according to  claim 3  wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a wireless cellular telephone transceiver. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device according to  claim 1  wherein said logic circuit comprises an OR gate. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device according to  claim 1  further comprising a rechargeable power supply coupled to said display, said GPU, and said processor. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device according to  claim 1  wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       8. An electronic device comprising:
 a display; 
 a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to be resettable and cause a change in said display when reset; 
 a processor configured to
 be resettable along with said GPU, 
 be partially resettable without resetting said GPU to avoid a change in said display, and 
 generate a GPU reset signal during the partial reset; 
 
 circuitry coupled to said processor and said GPU and configured to
 shut down power to said GPU and said processor during resets thereof, but maintain power to said GPU and said processor during a partial reset, and to generate a GPU reset hold signal, and 
 reset said GPU during the reset of said processor, and not reset said GPU during the partial reset based upon the GPU reset signal and the GPU reset hold signal. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device according to  claim 8  wherein said processor is configured to be partially resettable based upon a self-initiated command. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device according to  claim 8  further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said processor. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device according to  claim 8  further comprising a rechargeable power supply coupled to said display, said GPU, and said processor. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device according to  claim 8  wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       13. A method of operating an electronic device including a display, a graphics processing unit (GPU) being resettable and causing a change in the display when reset, and a processor configured to be resettable along with the GPU, be partially resettable without resetting the GPU to avoid a change in the display, and generate a GPU reset signal during the partial reset, the method comprising:
 shutting down power to the GPU and the processor during resets thereof, but maintaining power to the GPU and the processor during a partial reset, and generating a GPU reset hold signal; and 
 resetting the GPU during the reset of the processor, and not reset the GPU during the partial reset based upon the GPU reset signal and the GPU reset hold signal. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13  wherein partially resetting the processor is based upon a self-initiated command. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13  wherein the electronic device further comprises a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, and further comprising operating the wireless transceiver.